#Melissa's Tacos

[formeryelpers]

Melissa’s Tacos Birria Shack, 8535 Washington Blvd, Suite J, Pico Rivera, CA 90660

Melissa’s Tacos appears to be a newish taco stand in the Rio Hondo Center that specializes in birria. They have tacos, burritos, quesadillas, mulitas, tortas, loaded fries, birria ramen, birria pizza, breakfast, and beverages. You can order birria by the pound. Order at the window.

3 birria tacos dorados with cheese ($14.99): crispy corn tortilla tacos with beef birria, onion, cilantro, and cheese, a cup of consommé, sliced radishes, lime wedges, and 2 kinds of salsa. I didn’t see the part of the menu that said that their tacos are large (like twice the size of a street taco). The tacos were good – less greasy than the usual quesabirria tacos, but still hot and crunchy. Each taco came with two corn tortillas with a good amount of juicy beef birria, cheese, cilantro, and onions. There was no cheese skirt. The tacos were flavorful enough to not need salsa or consommé but dipping them in consommé did make them extra tasty. The consommé was just broth (no meat), topped with cilantro and onions. I wasn’t too keen on their salsas.

Melissa’s only has outdoor seating. There are a few tables in the front and more in the back.

4 out of 5 stars

By Lolia S.

[nicaree]

Ok I’ve been watching Vida and I love it and I love Lyn and Emma. Im up to the last season (boo) but have decided to make a night of it and I always crave tacos when I watch it. But I don’t want to order franchise Mexican food like GYG and there’s nothing genuine here in Perth (duh lol). So I guess I’ll make some.

Anyone have good (relatively) authentic recipes for like Tacos, or even just Salsa or sauce/seasonings to put on the meat. I’ll probably do chicken and/or pulled pork. Or maybe steak. Nothing super hot/spicy. I can do medium at most 😂, maybe lol

Or even a website for recipes to look at …

[kaces-graham-crackers]

Stirring the Quiet - Tangled Thoughts, Clear Hearts

Jenna Ortega x Female Reader

Summary: Days have passed since the run-in with Jenna's friends, and Y/N is still reeling from the unexpected "grilling." With the fall festival next weekend, there's excitement but nerves, too. Amid taco nights and family teasing, Y/N's mind keeps circling back to Jenna and where things might be headed. But just when Y/N thinks they’ve got it figured out, a simple text from Jenna hints at something more—if Y/N's ready to take the leap.

Word Count: 3.8k

The familiar chime of keys jingling in my hand as I unlocked the doors to The Daily Grind felt like the start of any other morning. Wilma and I stepped inside, the café still bathed in the soft, early morning glow. It was peaceful, calm—before the chaos of the day began.

Wilma flicked on the lights and headed straight for the kitchen. “I’ll start on the pastries. You got the coffee?”

I nodded, already moving toward the espresso machine. “On it.”

The morning routine was easy, familiar. It helped distract me from the whirlwind of thoughts that had been swirling in my head since the run-in with Emma and Melissa. I knew why they’d grilled me that day—testing my character, sizing me up to make sure I wasn’t playing games with Jenna. The whole thing still made me laugh a little, now that the intensity of it had passed.

But still, it left an impression.

Wilma popped her head out of the kitchen, eyeing me as I spaced out again. “You good? You’re staring off into space like you’re waiting for something to happen.”

I shook myself out of it. “Yeah, just thinking about the other day.”

Wilma raised an eyebrow. “You mean when Emma Myers and Melissa Barrera came in? You still stuck on that?”

“Kind of,” I admitted, pausing to lean against the counter. “I know they were testing me. You know, for Jenna. Just wanted to see if I had good intentions or whatever.”

Wilma smirked, wiping her hands on her apron. “Sounds like they take protecting their friend seriously.”

I nodded, a small smile creeping up. “Yeah, I get it. But they really threw me off. I wasn’t expecting it.”

She chuckled, disappearing back into the kitchen. “Well, it sounds like you passed the test. Guess they know you’re not a player.”

“Yeah,” I muttered to myself. “Guess so.”

Even though I knew they were just looking out for Jenna, it still weighed on me. Jenna was a big deal—bigger than I’d ever thought. And having her friends throw me into an interrogation, even under the guise of acting, made me realize how seriously they took her happiness.

And now, here I was, not just thinking about what Jenna might feel—but how I felt too.

I busied myself with brewing coffee and prepping the counter for the first wave of customers, trying to focus on the normal rhythm of the morning. But it was hard to shake the weight of it all. I didn’t mind that her friends cared so much. In fact, it made me admire Jenna even more, seeing how loyal and protective her circle was.

What I couldn’t figure out yet was how I fit into that picture.

Sure, Jenna had shown interest—at least, I was pretty sure she had. The lingering touches, the way she looked at me, the way she’d said I was different. All signs pointed to something more than friendship. But there was still that little voice in the back of my head, the one that nagged at me, questioning everything.

Would this really go anywhere? Did someone like Jenna, with her fame, her life in the spotlight, have room for someone like me? And even if she did, could I handle it? The attention, the scrutiny—it was all so far from the life I was used to.

I wiped down the counter, trying to shake the thoughts away, but they clung to me like stubborn shadows. As I finished prepping, Wilma popped up beside me, holding a tray of fresh pastries.

“You’ve been in your head all morning,” she observed, her tone light but probing. “Wanna talk about it?”

I glanced at her, shrugging slightly. “It’s just... everything with Jenna. I don’t know, Wilma. I feel like I’m overthinking it.”

Wilma raised an eyebrow, placing the tray on the counter and leaning against the wall. “Overthinking? What’s there to overthink? She likes you, right? And from what I can tell, you like her.”

I sighed, leaning against the counter. “Yeah, but it’s not that simple. I mean, look at her life. It’s so different from mine. I’m just a barista, and she’s... well, she’s Jenna Ortega.”

Wilma gave me a sympathetic smile. “Y/N, you’re not ‘just a barista.’ You’re you, and that’s why she likes you. You don’t have to fit into her world perfectly. If anything, she’s probably looking for something real, something outside of all the Hollywood craziness. And that’s what you give her.”

Her words made sense, but there was still that lingering doubt in my chest. “I guess. I just don’t want to get my hopes up, you know? I’ve been burned before.”

Wilma’s expression softened, and she reached out, placing a hand on my arm. “I get it. But you can’t let fear of the past ruin something good now. Jenna seems like she’s really into you. You just have to trust that and see where it goes.”

I nodded, appreciating her support. “Thanks, Wilma. I just... I don’t want to mess this up.”

“You won’t,” she said with a reassuring smile. “Just be yourself. That’s all you need to do.”

I smiled back, feeling a little lighter. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was overthinking things. Jenna had been clear about wanting to spend time with me, and her friends had given me the third degree—which, in a weird way, was a sign that they cared about her and maybe even wanted to see if I was the real deal. That had to mean something.

The bell above the door chimed, and the first wave of customers started trickling in, pulling me back into the routine of work. But even as I poured coffee and rang up orders, the thoughts of Jenna lingered, like a low hum in the background of my mind.

Later that afternoon, I was taking a quick break in the back when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, expecting a text from Wilma or one of my brothers, but my heart skipped when I saw Jenna’s name pop up.

I unlocked my phone, and the message made my heart flutter.

Jenna: Hey, what are you doing this next weekend? There's a fall festival in town, and I thought would be fun to check it out. Want to go with me?

A festival? The thought of walking through a fall festival with Jenna, surrounded by cozy autumn vibes, sounded perfect.

I quickly typed back, immediately.

Y/N: That sounds amazing. I’m totally down. What day were you thinking?

A few seconds later, my phone buzzed again.

Jenna: Saturday afternoon? It’s supposed to have food trucks, live music, and carnival games. We could just hang out and see where the night takes us.

I smiled, the excitement bubbling up inside me.

Y/N: I’m in! I can’t wait. Saturday it is.

After sending the message, I found myself grinning like an idiot, unable to stop thinking about how much fun next weekend was going to be. The idea of spending the day with Jenna, surrounded by the crisp fall air, pumpkins, and carnival lights, felt like something out of a dream.

As I tucked my phone back into my pocket and returned to work, my mind was already racing with thoughts of what the day might bring.

Two days later, I was back in the kitchen with Marcus and Caleb, prepping for a taco night instead of our usual routine meals. Mr. Noodles, as always, was perched on top of the fridge, his eyes darting back and forth between us as if supervising our cooking process. Caleb was working on the seasoned beef, adding his special blend of spices, while Marcus was busy chopping up vegetables, humming some random tune.

The smell of fresh tortillas and sizzling meat filled the air, making the kitchen feel warm and homey. But as much as I tried to focus on cooking, my mind kept wandering back to the fall festival and the fact that I’d be hanging out with Jenna.

“I can practically see the gears turning in your head,” Marcus said, breaking my thoughts. He wasn’t even looking at me, still focused on chopping tomatoes. “Thinking about your big day with Jenna?”

Caleb, always the more thoughtful one, glanced over from the stove. “He’s got a point, Ken. You’ve been pretty quiet for someone with a big weekend coming up.”

I shook my head, trying to brush it off. “I’m just... thinking. And it’s not a big deal.”

Marcus grinned, clearly not buying it. “Uh-huh. Just a ‘casual hangout’ with a mega-famous actress. Totally not a big deal.”

I groaned, rolling my eyes. “You guys are making it sound way bigger than it is. It’s just a festival.”

Caleb smirked, stirring the taco meat. “Sure, but it’s not every day you go to a festival with Jenna Ortega. It’s okay to admit you’re nervous.”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed with an incoming FaceTime call. I glanced down and saw it was from Mom. “Uh-oh,” I muttered, grabbing my phone. “Mom’s calling.”

Marcus’s eyes lit up. “Oh, this should be good.”

I answered the call, and immediately, my mom’s face filled the screen, her usual bright smile greeting me. “Hey, sweetie! How’s everything going?”

“Hey, Mom,” I replied, trying to keep the conversation casual as Marcus and Caleb exchanged amused glances. “We’re just making tacos.”

Dad’s voice boomed in the background. “Tacos, huh? Save some for us!”

I laughed, and just as I was about to respond, my little sister Layla’s face popped into view, her excitement practically vibrating through the phone. “Y/N! Marcus told us you have a date with Jenna Ortega! Is it true?”

I shot Marcus a glare, and he just grinned innocently, continuing to chop vegetables. “Seriously?” I mouthed at him.

Layla’s squeal of excitement pierced the air. “I knew it! You’re going on a date with a movie star! This is so cool! Can you get her autograph for me?”

My face heated up, and I rubbed my temples, trying to keep calm. “It’s not a date, Layla. We’re just hanging out.”

But before I could explain further, Mom’s face appeared on the screen again, her smile even bigger now. “Ken, that’s wonderful! I’m so glad you’re getting out there again. It’s about time.”

Dad chuckled in the background. “You better make a good impression. Who knows? Maybe she’ll be the one.”

I groaned internally, feeling the weight of everyone’s excitement. “Guys, please, it’s not like that. We’re just going to a festival. No big deal. Casual hangout”

“Right,” Marcus chimed in, clearly enjoying this. “Just a casual outing with one of the most famous actresses in the world. Totally normal.”

Layla squealed again. “Y/N, this is awesome! You’re dating someone rich! Can you imagine all the fancy places you could go?”

I facepalmed, the teasing from my family getting worse by the second. “Layla, please. I’m still figuring things out.”

Mom chuckled, her voice softening. “We’re just happy for you, sweetie. You deserve to have fun.”

Layla was still practically bouncing off the walls. “You have to tell me all about it, okay? Even if she’s not Tom Holland, this is still huge!”

I sighed, finally giving in. “Fine, I’ll tell you about it. But seriously, it’s not as big of a deal as you’re all making it.”

Dad grinned, giving me a playful wink. “We’ll be the judge of that.”

As the teasing continued, Caleb and Marcus were grinning from ear to ear, clearly loving every minute of my embarrassment. Mr. Noodles, meanwhile, had managed to sneak closer to the plate of cheese, and Marcus had to shoo him away quickly.

After a few more minutes of chaotic family chatter, I finally ended the call, feeling both exasperated and oddly comforted by their excitement.

I turned to Marcus, narrowing my eyes. “You just had to spill the beans, didn’t you?”

He shrugged, not even pretending to be sorry. “Hey, where’s the fun in keeping secrets?”

Caleb chuckled, handing me a taco shell. “Don’t worry, Ken. We’re just happy for you.”

I sighed, taking the taco and rolling my eyes. “You guys are impossible.”

Marcus raised his taco in a mock toast. “Here’s to your ‘casual hangout’ with Jenna.”

I couldn’t help but laugh despite the embarrassment. Deep down, though, I was already feeling a mix of excitement and nerves about the weekend.

Whatever was going to happen, it was clear that my family—and Mr. Noodles—would have plenty to say about it.

Later that evening, after the chaos of dinner and the endless teasing had died down, I found myself curled up on the couch with Mr. Noodles resting comfortably on my lap. His steady purring was a welcome comfort after the whirlwind of emotions the past few days had stirred up. I absentmindedly scratched behind his ears as I scrolled through my phone, trying to unwind.

It wasn’t the festival yet, but the anticipation still hung in the air, making it hard to focus on anything else. My mind kept drifting back to Jenna, replaying every conversation, every moment we’d shared. Was I reading too much into things? Or was there something real between us?

My phone buzzed with a notification, and I glanced down, expecting it to be another message from Marcus with more teasing. But to my surprise, it was a text from Jenna.

Jenna: Hey! Hope you’re free this weekend. I was thinking we could check out this new art exhibit downtown. I heard it’s really cool, and maybe grab some coffee after?

A smile tugged at my lips. It wasn’t a festival or anything grand, but the idea of spending time with her, doing something as simple as visiting an art exhibit, felt… right. I quickly typed a response, trying to play it cool even though my heart was doing little flips in my chest.

Y/N: That sounds great! I’d love to. What time were you thinking?

She replied almost immediately.

Jenna: How about Friday around noon? We can make a whole afternoon of it if you’re up for it.

Y/N: Sounds perfect. Can’t wait!

As soon as I hit send, a wave of nervous excitement washed over me. It wasn’t just about hanging out with her anymore—it felt like something more.

I spent the rest of the evening thinking about how things had shifted between us, from casual coffee shop chats to this. It was strange, but in the best way possible.

Friday came faster than I expected, and by the time I was getting ready, the nervous excitement had hit full force. Caleb and Marcus, of course, were no help as they hovered around, watching me like vultures.

“So,” Marcus started, leaning against my bedroom doorframe with a grin. “Big day with Jenna, huh?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hide my smile. “It’s not a date.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Caleb said, smirking as he fluffed a pillow on my bed for no reason at all. “But if it were a date, hypothetically, you’d want to look good, right?”

I glanced at them both, trying to suppress a laugh. “Hypothetically.”

Marcus gave me a once-over and nodded. “Well, you’re looking date-ready to me.”

“Guys, it’s just an art exhibit..”

“Uh-huh.” Caleb exchanged a knowing look with Marcus. “Whatever you say, Y/N.”

I sighed, grabbing my jacket and throwing it over my shoulder. “Okay, I’m heading out before you two drive me crazy.”

Marcus gave me a mock salute. “Good luck, sis. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks, I guess?” I muttered, shaking my head as I headed for the door. Mr. Noodles meowed from his perch on the windowsill, watching me go with what I could only describe as mild disinterest.

When I arrived at the art gallery, Jenna was already waiting outside, dressed in a casual yet effortlessly stylish outfit, as always. She spotted me and waved with that signature smile that always made my heart skip a beat.

“Hey!” she greeted as I approached. “You ready to be blown away by some modern art?”

I grinned. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

We spent the next couple of hours wandering through the exhibit, making comments about the more abstract pieces and laughing at our completely amateur interpretations. Jenna’s knowledge of art was impressive, though she played it down, explaining how her mom had always taken her to galleries when she was younger.

It was easy being with her—comfortable, even when the conversation dipped into deeper topics. As we moved from room to room, I couldn’t help but feel like this was the kind of moment you didn’t get often—something simple, but meaningful.

After the exhibit, we grabbed coffee at a nearby café, sitting by the window as we sipped our drinks. The conversation flowed as naturally as ever, and before I knew it, hours had passed.

So,” Jenna said, her tone a bit more serious as she swirled her cup. “I’ve been meaning to ask... how are things going? You know, with The Daily Grind, and everyone?”

I looked at her, sensing that she wasn’t just asking about my day. “Things are... good. Busy, but good. And you?”

Jenna smiled softly, her eyes meeting mine. “Same. But it’s been nice... having someone to talk to. Someone who gets it.”

I felt a warmth spread through my chest, a feeling that seemed to be happening more and more whenever we talked. But there was something different in the way she said it this time. Her gaze lingered on mine, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something flicker in her eyes.

Before I could respond, Jenna shifted slightly in her seat, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup. “Actually, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.” Her voice had a softer, more hesitant edge to it.

I tilted my head, intrigued. “What’s up?”

She bit her lip, almost like she was searching for the right words. “You remember when we first started hanging out? It felt... I don’t know, casual. But lately... I’ve been thinking it’s something more than that. Maybe it always has been, and I didn’t want to admit it.”

My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to process what she was saying. Was she about to say what I thought she was? Was this actually happening?

“I know I’ve been careful about keeping things... low-key,” she continued, her eyes still locked on mine. “But I’ve realized I don’t want to pretend anymore. I don’t want to overthink everything just because of how complicated my life is.”

I swallowed hard, my voice barely above a whisper. “What are you saying, Jenna?”

Jenna let out a small, nervous laugh, running a hand through her hair. “I guess what I’m trying to say is... I like you, Y/N. More than just a friend. And I’ve been trying to figure out if you feel the same way, or if I’m just imagining things.”

I blinked, stunned for a moment. Of all the things I’d imagined happening today, this was not one of them. Jenna Ortega, the girl who had been the subject of all my daydreams for the past few months, was sitting across from me, confessing her feelings. For me.

A grin spread across my face as my nervousness faded. I leaned in, gently placing a hand on hers. "You're not imagining things, Jenna," I said softly, my heart racing. "I’ve felt the same for a while. I wasn’t sure if I knew fully or was ready for it."

Jenna’s eyes widened in surprise, but a bright smile broke across her face. “Really? You’ve... felt the same?”

I nodded, my own smile growing. “Yeah. I didn’t want to push anything, especially since I know your life is crazy and complicated. But... yeah. I like you, Jenna. A lot.”

Her smile softened into something more tender, wrapping her fingers around mine and holding my hand. "I'm really glad you said that."

For a moment, we just sat there, the world outside the café falling away as we looked at each other. It was like everything had shifted between us in the span of a few sentences, but in the best possible way.

“Does this mean...” I started, trying to piece together what this meant for us. “That we’re...?”

Jenna laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. “Let’s just say we’re taking a step forward. I don’t want to rush anything, but I also don’t want to hold back anymore.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. “I’m okay with that.”

We both sat back, the tension in the air replaced by something lighter, something that felt like the start of something new.

“There’s something else I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Jenna said, her tone shifting to something more serious.

I tilted my head, curious. “Yeah?”

She hesitated, fiddling with her bracelet for a moment before looking up at me. “I’ve been offered a pretty big role. It’s... out of the country, though. And it’s long-term.”

My stomach did a small flip. “Out of the country? For how long?”

Jenna sighed. “Six months, maybe longer. It’s a dream project, but I didn’t want to bring it up until I knew for sure. And now it’s official.”

I blinked, trying to process the information. “Wow. That’s... amazing, Jenna. But... six months?”

She gave a small nod, her eyes searching mine for a reaction. “Yeah, I know. It’s a lot to take in. I don’t even know how to feel about it yet. On one hand, it’s such a huge opportunity, but on the other...”

I didn’t know what to say for a second, my mind racing with thoughts. “You’re going to take it, right?”

Jenna looked down, biting her lip. “I think so. But I wanted to tell you first. I didn’t want to just... disappear without you knowing what was going on.”

I sat back, taking in her words. It felt like a heavy shift, something neither of us had been expecting. Six months was a long time, and part of me wasn’t sure how to feel about it. But at the same time, this was a huge step for Jenna, and I knew how much her work meant to her.

“I’m glad you told me,” I said, my voice steady. “It sounds like an incredible opportunity. I’m proud of you.”

Jenna smiled softly, relief washing over her face. “Thanks. I just didn’t want you to think I was... leaving, you know?”

I nodded, understanding the unspoken weight behind her words. This wasn’t just about the project; it was about us—whatever this was it was getting serious. And while the news felt like a curveball, it didn’t change how I felt. Not in the slightest.

“Well, we’ll figure it out,” I said, offering her a reassuring smile. “Whatever happens, we’ll figure it out.”

Jenna’s smile grew, and I saw a flicker of hope in her eyes for the first time since the conversation started. “Yeah. We will.”

[brialex]

The reason Missa doesn't consider Philza's house to be his too is because he wasn't there.

He wasn't there to see their changes, he wasn't there when more and more details were added for his children.

Yes, he has access, because Philza always thinks about Missa. But this had happened before with Roier.

There was a week when Missa wasn't on the server, and Roier had upgraded the house where they used to live together (before Tacos lore). He improved the second floor, the crops, made a bridge, and Missa still had access because that house belonged to both of them.

Then one day he came back, saw all those changes and no longer considered that that was his home. Even when Quackity asked him to come in, and he told him "This is not my house, I didn't make it". Then the Tacos thing happen and he left that place, alone.

So yes, this may happen because when he doesnt participate, he wasnt part of the process... and that was a week, now imagine missing all those changes in MONTHS.

Before leaving for Japan he told Chayanne that he would do everything possible to logging. Because "he didn't want anyone to tell him anything, he wanted to be there". And that didn't happen because thats out of roleplay lol

But Yup, thats why he's always looking for places where he can make his OWN house.

I can even mention that moment when he came back home to visit Chayanne and quietly sang "Huésped en casa propia" by Pxndx

(Translation: Guest in your own home)

It was a detail that went unnoticed, and I hate that!! because the song talks about how he really feels.

The waypoint says "Phil & Missa" but it's more Phil than Missa. It was more Roier than Missa... Do you feel me?

Because that feeling of being a burden is not because he is just "in love with Philza", it is because his personality is like that with everyone

JAJA and it's funny to know that Missa has involuntarily built his character like this, he has even gone to therapy with Melissa twice!!!

And now that Philza has realized all this, I hope that the next time they meet again he will make Missa feel that that is his family and home too, because history repeats and repeats itself. And it's angst, so fucking angst.

[baronessblixen]

And We Go On

Day 4 for the Eight Nights of Mulder: endurance and my prompt for the 24 Days of X-Mas Files Challenge: bad Christmas puns

Summary: On the car ride after they said goodbye to Emily, Mulder tries his best to ease some of Scully's pain. (emotional hurt/comfort with some humor thrown in; wc: 1,134)

Tagging @today-in-fic @eightnightsofmulder

They're wrapped in a coat of silence as they step outside the church, their steps in perfect sync. What is there to say, anyway? What do you say to someone who's just said goodbye to the child she didn't know she had? Mulder opens the car door for Scully and lingers there until she has put her seatbelt on.

A few yards away, Scully's family is still smiling and fawning over baby Matthew, and he hopes he's blocking Scully's view. After laying her own daughter to rest, she doesn't need to see this. If he could take her pain away, he would in a heartbeat. All he can do, however, is be here for her, and follow her lead.

Inside the car, there's neither enough space, nor air. When the silence threatens to crush them, Mulder turns on the radio. Soft melodies fill the car, and he fears he's only making things worse.

"Can we drive a while?" Her question cuts through the tension and stuns him. He clears his throat before he says, "Of course." Scully hardly ever asks for anything, and he's prepared to give her everything. He'd drive her to the end of the world if that's what she wanted.

"I'm just not ready to face everything yet." A crack in her voice and her armor.

"It's okay. We can drive all day."

"My family would worry."

"Eh, just tell them it's my fault." It feels like it, too. He'll do his penance. In front of a God he doesn't believe in, if he has to. Anything for her. He glances over at Scully, shocked at how ashen her face is and how devoid of life. Only weeks ago, the color returned to her cheeks. After she beat her cancer, he thought this was it. He thought they were in the clear. But there's always something else waiting for them, trying to take them down.

Years ago, Scully told him how much she loved Christmas. They were younger then, their friendship new and untarnished. She told him about Scully family traditions and that no matter what, they always laughed. Back then he didn't know the Scullys, had yet to meet Mrs. Scully, Melissa, and Bill Jr. When he pictured them, it was always with crinkled laugh lines around their eyes and a smile on their lips. The same one Scully wore when she mentioned her family.

Today, there is no laughter, no joy. And he can't bear it. She deserves more. She deserves a Christmas where she can smile, laugh, and just be herself.

"Hey, Scully?" He decides not to think too much about it. Just do whatever it takes. No matter how ridiculous he's going to look or sound." Let's taco about Christmas." It's a bad pun, but it's the first one that comes to his mind.

"What?" Her voice sounds weak. If he wants to make her laugh, or even smile, he has to up his game.

"I'm pine-ing for you this Christmas?" he tries.

"Are you okay?" she asks, her eyebrows knit in concern. At least he's distracting her from her pain.

"I'm up to snow good."

"You're..." he feels her eyes on him, and since there's not much traffic, he turns to look at her. Her expression is neutral, but he thinks she's thawing. He can't ease her agony; only time can do that. No one can stop him from trying, though. He will make her smile today, come what may.

"I've got high elf-esteem."

"You're insane." And he hears it. Soft, almost shy, but decidedly there: a giggle. A real, honest cackle. He grins, glancing at her. Tears shimmer in her eyes, and he reaches over the console to grab her hand.

"There's no gift like the present." Scully chortles and his heart soars. "I have something for you, by the way. I must admit I stole it from your brother's house, but I think it was a brilliant idea. Are you hungry at all? I'm a bit hungry. Reach into my coat pocket."

"This is not a trick, is it?"

"What? No." Her eyes on him, she sticks her hand into his pocket and fishes out two candy canes.

"Stole it last night and look, these candy canes are in mint condition."

"I'm not hungry."

"You don't need to be hungry for a candy cane, Scully." The plastic crackles as Scully unwraps the candy. Soft peppermint aroma fills the car. She's just holding the candy cane as if unsure what to do next.

"Want me to lick it?" He realizes the implications of what he just said a moment too late. Their eyes meet and then, miraculously, they're roaring with laughter, tears streaming down their faces. Mulder stops the car at the side of the road, needing a moment. Their laughter dies down slowly, a few chuckles falling out of their mouths here and there.

"Want to share?" Mulder asks after a moment.

"Snow be it," Scully replies, the corner of her mouth twitching. She breaks the candy cane in two, handing one half to Mulder. He's almost too mesmerized to notice it. Scully takes her half and bites off a large chunk, chewing slowly.

"I know what you're doing," she says. "And I appreciate it. Thank you." She puts her hand over his on his thigh. Her face is close to his and she smells sweet and fresh, like the candy cane. "I- I needed a moment of, um. I just needed a moment."

"I can come up with another thousand bad puns," he says earnestly.

"You never give up, do you?" Her smile is shaky.

"Only if absolutely forced to." She nods, quickly wiping away a few tears.

"I think I'm ready to go to my brother's house now."

"Are you sure? We can keep going. Hell, say the word and I'll drive us home."

"I know you would." She squeezes his hand. "I don't want to ask but..."

"You can ask for anything, Scully. Anything at all."

"Will you stay with me a while?"

"No one can stop me. Well, your brother could, but I won't let him. And if you need-"

"I know, Mulder. I know. Now tell me another one. I can see it in your eyes. You want to make another joke." Her smile may be colored in sadness, but it's still a smile, and he helped put it there. He starts the car again, Scully's hand falling from his and onto his thigh.

"What did one ornament say to another?" Mulder asks, trying to hide his delight. He pauses for effect until he can't hold it in any longer. "I like hanging with you." He hears a soft chuckle and it sounds glorious to his ears. It will take a while, but in the end, she'll be okay.

[1rsoldiersince2012]

Bound by Law (Matt Murdock x Reader)

Words: 2758 (chapter 50)

*whispers * "we are so back baby"

50. of first dates and men

"I almost thought I wasn't gonna make it." You admit, placing your arm on Matt's, an action that has become a habit of yours when you two were by yourselves. "Mahoney opened an active investigation, and blah blah blah."

"I feel like you're leaving all the juicy details out." Matt turns his head to your side, smiling. There's an easiness in his step, maybe he feels lighter, maybe it's because you're finally here with him after a long, lonely day in the office; maybe it's because he's so in love that it all seems silly to him.

"Don't be so greedy, Murdock." You slightly nudge his side, spotting the diner that you chose for your date. Far away from the office and Karen, and Foggy, far away from the people you might know. The street you're both walking appears rather noisy, kids kicking around a ball, music playing loudly in someone's house, an old man with a questionable taste in hats is selling tacos, and two girls are arguing at someone's doorstep.

"It's hard to not be when I'm with you." He replies, tuning out the surrounding noise.

You bite away a smile, squeezing his forearm affectionately; upon entering the diner, you're amazed by all the decorations, light bulbs in different colored jars hanging from one wall to another, the big lights dimmed to create a pleasant and cozy atmosphere for the evening, and pleasant soft music playing from the speakers. "Well, we're here."

Matt takes a deep breath, "Smells nice."

You choose the table in the farthest corner, hanging your coat on the chair, and finally sit down. Your feet were already sore from walking on the job in heels the whole day, running from one office to another in the station, but you refused to wear something more comfortable this evening; your dark red silk dress was made to be paired with the black stiletto heels.

**  "Ever played truth or dare?" You ask, cutting your steak. Matt's knife stops and he turns his head to the side, thinking. It was cute how he always tilted his head like a confused dog, as if the action somehow cleared his confusion.

"Uhh, no, I don't think so. Why?" He asks softly. You two have been chatting this and that while waiting for food, so now you wanted to keep the conversation going.

"You... Wanna play?" You bite your lip anxiously, waiting for him to turn down your suggestion and call it childish. "If you don't want, that's okay... I'm just suggesting."

"Yeah, alright, why not?" He chews his salad, thinking for a moment. "When's the last time you played this?"

"Uh... Probably during the last spring break in high school." You chuckle. "Someone dared me to steal handcuffs from my dad."

"Did you?"

"Obviously... Just haven't yet told him that it was me."

Matt smiles, biting the inside of his cheek, and you can't help but look at the way he pokes his tongue out to lick his lips. "Now, I'm not that surprised you agreed to break into Melissa's house."

"Oh, are you throwing shade on me, Murdock?" You exaggerate your fake gasp and grab your chest. The way your fingers slide on your silk dress, makes Matt suck in a sharp breath.

"I'm just, making an assumption... A very late one, too." He nervously fixes his glasses again. "Okay, so, truth or dare?" He leans forward, catching a whiff of your perfume, and picks up the fork once more.

"Let's begin with truth."

"Oh, safe choice, alright. When was your last serious relationship?"

"Checking your chances or...?" You laugh with Matt, but then get a bit more serious. "Well, I only had two of those. One was obviously Robert. Then there was another guy. And after him, I briefly got back with Robert again, but it wasn't serious that second time with him. I wasn't the same person he knew." You take a sip of your wine, continuing, "so yeah, that was at least nine years ago."

"Wow." Matt's eyebrows briefly shoot up above his glasses, lips curling downwards.

"Yeah... So, truth or dare?" You poke a salad with the fork, looking at Matt making a decision.

"I'll go with truth as well." He replies after a long minute, fingers tapping around for the knife.

"What about your past relationships?" You ask, clearing your throat. You had a rough idea of his previous flings, so you weren't surprised when he told you that he's more of a 'one-night stand guy'. It felt weird, on one hand you knew that what you had right now was serious, compared to Matt's relationship record, but it made you somewhat unease, thoughts of you being just one big distraction began creeping into your mind while he was talking. Well, you weren't any different, God knows, you two were made from the same fucked up clay; but it was what it was, and you couldn't change your past. Or Matt's for that matter.

"There was this girl while I was still in college. I think she was the only one I confessed my love to..." Matt quickly clears his throat, cheeks reddening from embarrassment. "Until I met you, of course."

"We're more similar than I thought." You say, averting your eyes from his crouched figure. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it was the truth, hard truth.

He smiles, almost guiltily. The game continues until you're both two glasses of wine in, leaning close to each other, giggling about nothing, daring to kiss each other or ask the waiter to change the radio station. The people around you change quicker than you can get used to the new faces, but you're still there, still lost in each other's perfumes, still holding hands under the table, still very much in love.

*** 

"So, don't you think that there's something between Matt and y/n?" Karen asks out of the blue, and the question knocks all the thoughts out of Foggy's head.

He blinks slowly, "what?", then laughs shortly, "it's a joke, right?"

They're the only one's left in the office before closing time, with you gone to the station since morning, and Matt leaving a bit earlier than usual. Karen presses the START button on the printer and it begins buzzing. "Yeah. No. I mean, I don't know." She shakes her head, blonde hair falling on her face. "Maybe I'm just imagining it, but it seemed strange, the look she gave me yesterday. When we were in the bar." Karen falls silent, realizing that she said too much already.

"What look? Karen, what happened yesterday? I thought we all had a great time together." Foggy stops packing his briefcase and looks at Karen's back, waiting for her to turn around, but she doesn't, still shielding her pink cheeks with her long hair.

"We did, yeah."

"Then what look are you talking about?" Foggy starts catching the train of Karen's thoughts and his eyes slightly widen, "Wait. You're jealous, aren't you?"

"Jealous? Foggy, don't be ridiculous." Karen blows a raspberry, but it's too late, too obvious.

"Karen..." A heavy sigh leaves Foggy's lips, and he comes to the printer, "three things. First, Matt's not the man of serious relationships, trust me, as his long time friend, I know that. Second, we all were pretty drunk last night, so you might've mistaken that 'look' you're talking about with something else, y/n said she was pretty tired, so." He puts a comforting hand on Karen's shoulder, "I just don't think that those two could be a thing. I mean, a couple of months ago they almost fought each other in court, so, don't burden yourself with these things. Or do. But it's my advice to let it go."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." She smiles, still not convinced. Foggy had no reason to lie, but something was telling her that she was right, there was something between you and Matt.

"Wanna go grab a drink?" He tries, expecting a negative answer, so that he could go visit Marci without an ache in his heart.

"Um, no, I still have a few more copies to make." Karen's tone is dismissive as she tries to hide bitterness behind her shy smile.

"Hey, don't stay up late, you know we can't pay for overtime." Foggy leaves with a huge beam on his face, while Karen's face drops as soon as the door closes.

*** 

Your smile. It's so beautiful. So kind and genuine. You laugh at something he says, hiding your lips with your palms, until his hands reach to pull them away from your face, and he kisses your knuckles. You were so beautiful, glowing like an angel in the dark; and so... In love? Dex couldn't tell, simply because he has never had anyone looking at him like that. It was pathetic, what he was feeling right now. Yet he couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be in that guy's place, to have you look at him with such adoration and affection.

"Is everything alright, sir?" The waitress asks, smiling at Dex warmly. He has barely touched his food, as he was so busy with watching you. But now she was blocking his most precious view.

"Yes, it's good." He lies so terribly that the poor girl has no choice but to leave him alone.

It was a total accident, Dex didn't plan on going out tonight, or any other night for that matter, but Ray was the one to blame. He kept blabbering about this place for a week, so finally Dex decided to check what was so special about it. And when he sat down to look at the menu, he noticed you sitting with a guy in the farthest corner of the diner. At first, Dex thought that he was imagining it, but then he was positive that it was you. Your shoulders and more than half of your back were exposed, your dress was hanging on two slim straps, falling up to your ankles. He couldn't take his eyes off. Dex has only seen you in formal attires, usually a blouse, jacket and a skirt, hair almost always out of your eyes, tied up in a bun, but now, your hair was free from any ties, shining in the dim light.

Dex finally takes a bite of his food, grimacing at the coldness. Maybe he was lost in his head for too long. He notices the movement in the corner of his eye and sees the guy with red tinted glasses stand up and walk behind you, he pushes your hair to the side and puts something around your neck. The guy leans and kisses your cheek, then slowly returns back to his seat. You smile again, and bring him in for a quick kiss, touching the thing on your neck. Dex clenches his jaw, angrily poking the potato with the fork and turns his head away from the sight.

***  "I know that it's way too late now, but I just wanted to give you this." Matt says, pulling a small red box out of his jacket.

At first glance you think that it's a ring box and almost panic, but then he opens it and you notice a silver chain with a cross. An exhale, mixed with surprise leaves your lips; you touch the necklace, slightly confused, "For what?" 

"Well, happy belated birthday," Matt smiles, taking the necklace from its box, "I know that it's... Not really your... Thing... I mean I overheard what you talked about God and all that in church..." Matt quickly gets flustered, and starts stuttering, while you look at him with rising  interest and amusement, "It would mean a lot to me if you decide to wear it. Not that I'm pushing this... Uh... Religion thing or anything."

"Okay. I'll wear it. For you." You answer rapidly, much to his surprise. 

"Thank you for ending my misery here." Matt laughs, and rises from his seat.

"It was pretty terrible." You tease, extending your arm to guide him towards you.

"Ouch."

"I mean... You're losing your attorney skills, Murdock."

"And I still convinced you in a record time." Matt's quick fingers clasp the chain, and he leans to kiss your cheek, returning to his seat like the wind. 

"It's beautiful, thank you, Matt." Your hand touches his, and involuntary you notice freshly bruised knuckles, but keep your mouth shut, at least tonight. 

However, you can't keep it shut entirely and begin the same old conversation about the guy you wish didn't exist in your life. As the waiter brings a tiramisu to share, you look around the diner, failing to notice Dex just by an accident of people walking to get their drinks; poking the corner of the dessert with a teaspoon, you say, "I didn't wanna talk about work tonight, but Paxton told me an interesting thing."

Matt licks the inside of the spoon and raises his eyebrows in question. He already knows what you're about to say, but still pretends to be interested. "Yeah?"

You pull your glance away from his lips, scratching your head, "He said that Daredevil saved him last night. From his friends. That's why I had to spend the whole day in the station, trust me, Mahoney will not be delighted to see me there any time soon, but that's not the point." 

"So, what did he say?" He's itching to know how much did Paxton actually reveal, and to his dismay, the boy didn't hold back.

"I didn't think about until the lunch, but it's been bothering me ever since. He told me that Daredevil not only saved him, but made him promise to call me in the morning." You make a long pause to finally eat a spoon of tiramisu, while Matt feels tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "It wouldn't be as weird in my books if he just saved Paxton, but I keep thinking about it and just can't figure out how he knew about Paxton having a lawyer. He's just a highschooler after all." You shrug slightly, picking up your spoon again. 

"Maybe he has superhearing or something." Matt tries to joke, but your face remains serious.

"Yeah, if this guy has superhearing, then he's supposed to be called a superhero, and if he's a superhero, then I'm Queen of England." You scoff.

"How are you so sceptical? I mean, we live in a world with the Avengers as our next door neighbours." 

"Yes, but we know who they are, don't we? And this guy is hiding behind a mask, so of course, he is nothing more than a criminal doing illegal activities." You notice how sour Matt's face has turned and try to save the sinking ship, "Don't tell me that you're the same as Karen."

"Karen? What's she has to do with Daredevil?" It felt weird, to finally say his other name out loud, weird, yet somewhat satisfying.

"Please, she's always defending him as if somebody's holding her at gunpoint; it was weird at first, but now it's just... Fucking creepy at this point." You take a big sip of wine and add something Matt didn't expect you to say, at least not right now. "While I'm on the Karen topic, then I might as well say this. I think she's terribly in love with you."

A laugh, mixed with a surprised "What" leaves Matt's lips.

"I mean, come on, haven't you noticed the signs? 'Matt, do you want me to read this out loud' and 'Matt, do you want me to walk you home', and let's not forget the 'Matt, where do you want to get lunch', honorable mention being last night at Josie's. I thought she was going to pull you into that dirty bathroom." You finish, amazed at your own bluntness, while Matt meets you with a sly grin and raised eyebrows.

"Are you... Jealous, y/n?" He can't help but ask, biting his lower lip seductively.

"I have a reason to be!" You lean in, and whisper-shout, "you're and your magical charm are attracting everyone in the room."

"You're so attractive when you're jealous." He blurts out unexpectedly, and you both burst out loud laughing, turning a couple of heads around you. Dex swallows his salad like a bitter pill, wishing you and this douchebag date of yours left quicker. 

***  

While one man was enjoying the company of a woman he was deeply in love with, in the presence of a man whose jealousy and insanity were rising with every passing minute, there also was a third man, currenly more thirsty and angry than the previously mentioned two. A man who has lost everything he loved and held close to his heart. A man thirsty for blood and revenge, a man with an impeccable aim and a never-ending arsenal of bullets. The Punisher.

[stevenbasic]

Growing into the Job, Post 377: The Beginnings of Empire

“Do we have to watch the news?” Julia asked, pouring a half-refill into Josie’s red solo cup, which she’d balanced on her what-could-almost-be-called prodigious chest. Fed by each of Dr. J's little expulsions at Missy’s hand, it was becoming quite the nice cup holder. 

Josie Jensen liked these kind of nights. Even if it was a Tuesday, even if they needed to work the next day, even if they weren’t out partying. Being together, with the girls, just felt right. The group of them - Randi, Amelia and Julia, and her new friend Lakshmi - had been at the Tipsy Taco earlier this evening. The 'Missy' effect  or what some of the girls were calling the  'Blissy' effect or simply ‘the Bliss’, had come during their first round of drinks. Missy and Dr. J were obviously having fun together somewhere and it was making the buttons nearly pop on all their tops. Nice way to start the evening! Now completely full, they were vegged-out, gorged to the gills on hamburgers at Josie’s place. Lounging around, watching TV. Amelia was doing Lakshmi’s nails. Julia had made them some more margaritas. Josie felt bloated and chubby and somewhat regretting her little binge.

All of them sorta missed Melissa and - what the fuck, why could they feel it in their bones like this? - Dr. J. The dude was a nerd but nnnngh, maybe they’d get some more Bliss off him in a bit. Odds were good, since they could all still feel that Missy and J were still together. 

“There’s a new episode of ‘Stinkers!…we should watch that,” Julia suggested.

“Oooo our patient is in that, right?” called Lakshmi.

“Yah,” answered Randi, voice extra-smoky tonight. She’d been showing off her new skills of getting big shit into her mouth at the bar, freaking out some guys. Her hand, one of their hands. A pint glass. It was quite the trick.  “Adrienne’s like, taking over that house with those new tits of hers.” 

“She’s getting so pretty,” someone commented. 

“Dude, no, this is important,” Josie replied, raptly watching CNN over the rim of her margarita and trying not to let its plastic straw poke up into her right nostril.

Her mom had started back to work recently, at first a marketing consultant for a bunch of 'New Woman' campaigns, and now she was transitioning to more permanent positions on staff with a few of the recently-elected women headed to Washington. So, Josie had picked up the politics bug over the past few months; it was really fascinating. The world was changing so fast, and it got her excited.

 “I’m taping ‘Stinkers!’ anyway, we can watch that after this,” Josie allowed.

It was a cool reality show, but she really wanted to see what was happening in East Makata. 

“What’s the U.N.’s reaction to this going to be?” came the anchor’s question to their guest, a sweaty doof with a comb-over. 

It had just been reported earlier today. Some company had taken over a small country. Listening to the anchor-lady behind the news desk, and the guy she was interviewing tell it, it sounded like something between a coup d’etat and a purchase. It hadn’t really made big headlines, but Josie had seen it and there was something about the story that gripped her.  

“Where’s Makata anyways?” Julia, the shapely redhead among them asked. She emptied the last of her pitcher into Amelia’s empty cup.

“East Makata,” Josie corrected. 

“It is in Central Africa,” Lakshmi offered, nodding at the map on the big screen over her shoulder. 

“Kind of near Wakanda?” Julia posited.  

“Wakanda’s fake,” Amelia retorted, “East Makata’s not. You’d know that if you ever paid attention in Geography.”

“I never heard of it,” Julia shrugged, walking away back towards the kitchen ostensibly to make another pitcher.

Josie rolled her eyes. She guessed the similarities were there: tiny African nation, pretty isolated, landlocked. Removed from lots going on in the larger world. But, unlike Wakanda, East Makata was poor as fuck and beset by constant violence and the machinations of warlords. This big corporation, it was kind of ambiguous which one still, though this guy had his theories, had come in and bankrolled their way into power. How they were going to run it was still unclear.

“Isn’t the company this guy’s talking about the same one that we think kinda owns Evolution?” asked Randi. 

“The Russian thing?”

“I did not think the Collective was in the business of politics,” Lakshmi offered. 

“I guess they are now,” drawled Amelia. She was starting with a clear coat of polish on Kiki’s left hand. “All hail The Great Mother, right?”

Amelia’s comment made Josie tingle, and her hair wiggled on the sofa pillow beside her. If it was KOLECTV, and the Eastern European conglomerate was everything she’d heard, this was super-cool news, thrilling. East Makata, an actual nation, was now in the hands of women. Not just governed - that was happening everywhere, around the world - but owned. Women controlled it completely. They could do anything.

“They’re a small nation, yes, but I’ve been watching this unfold for a while now,” came the guy’s onscreen voice as he defended his positions, “and my investigations have shown that this ‘Collective’ and its network of subsidiaries has been purchasing up land in the surrounding countries as well. And doing similar things worldwide. The U.N., or someone, really has to step in.” The guy had begun to drone. “It’s the responsibility of the larger world to-“

The girls all watched, but attention had started to wane.

“This guy sounds like a tool.”

 “He’s definitely mansplaining.”

That should be a federal offense, Josie mused to herself, maybe it will be someday. She pulled the red solo cup from out of her top, took one long drag of a sip, and put it aside. 

 “Who is this reporter guy anyway?” asked Randi, “Some author?”

“I dunno,” Amelia said dryly, “I’m sure he’ll disappear soon.”

"Yeah.. "

“Hey, wanna put on ‘Stinkers!’?”

“Sure.”

…

…

“...I miss Dr. J,” someone said. 

“Me too,” Josie answered, pulling her phone from out her top. 

“Yeah I could really use some cock right now,” Randi chuckled, stretching her jaw and bringing giggles from others. 

Josie opened up her phone, raised it above herself to take a picture. 

“Let’s send him a kiss…”

===========================

big thanks to RiF for some above-and-beyond editing, and my usual team of ninja assassins for guidance

[slippinmickeys]

Madam Scully’s Spiritual Services, Inc. (5/?)

He still wasn’t certain why he’d walked into the fortune teller’s shop. He was sure however, about why he’d stayed long enough for a reading.

It had been a blisteringly hot day at Quantico, one in which they were running outside, and one of the few nights the cadets had off, allowed to leave the Marine Base where they were housed and trained. Everyone had been close to heat stroke when they finished their five miles, Mulder included, but to him, a night out drinking with his classmates held little appeal. His plan, such as it had been, was to grab something to eat and study for the upcoming Legal II exam — a test even seasoned attorneys sometimes failed — but every restaurant he passed looked less appealing than the one before it. Until he saw the sign for El Compadre. A few tacos and a cold coke were just the thing.

But when he got out of his old Land Rover to head into the taqueria, he’d glanced into the window of the fortune teller’s shop next door and had seen the woman sitting behind the counter, her head bent low as though she were reading. Even through the grimy window, her hair shone like polished copper, and her skin was dewy with sweat. He was intrigued by her rather than struck dumb and had paused outside, reading the smattering of signs in the window. “Heal your past, learn your future” said one. “Walk-ins welcome,” said another. Well, he was a walk-in. And he did just that.

The inside was fusty and warm, an oscillating fan in the corner moving around a thick, stolid breeze. The decor inside was all kitsch, its shelves filled with new age crap; crystals and geodes, and lots of purple and black velvet. And when the woman looked up? The ice cave blue of her eyes fixing on him, well…

She led him through the door now, the night not nearly as uncomfortably hot as it had been the first time, and they were met by a taller, willowy woman who Mulder assumed was the “real” Madam Scully. She was a couple of years older than Dana, her hair a darker auburn. She wore bangles on her wrists, and a flowy, flower print dress over a white capped-sleeve tee shirt.

Dana inclined her head. “My sister,” she said.

The woman gave him a frank, penetrating look.

“Madam Scully, I presume?” Mulder said, holding out a hand.

“Melissa,” she said, putting a limp four fingers in his grasp, which he shook clumsily.

“This is Fox Mulder,” said Scully, looking between them a little awkwardly.

“Ah,” Melissa said. “So you’re the guy who brought the spirits into my shop and then left without paying.”

Mulder gave her a chagrined look. “I have rectified the latter,” he said. “But hoping you could help me with the former.”

Melissa stared hard at her sister before turning back to him.

“No,” she said firmly.

He and Scully both said “What?” at the same time.

Melissa sighed. “I’m happy to act as an advisor,” she said. “To both of you. But this spirit didn’t come to me. She came to you.” She turned to Scully. “And you . I am not a part of this triad.”

“But-“ Scully started, but Melissa held up a hand, and turned back to Mulder.

“Someone wants to communicate with you. You need to decide if you’re ready and willing to hear what they have to say. You may not like it.”

“And you,” she said, turning back to her sister and letting what Mulder assumed to be frustration leach into her voice. “You can’t dabble in this world while looking down your nose at it. You may not believe in these spirits, Dana, but one of them certainly believes in you.”

Scully paled and Melissa’s tone took on a more sympathetic bent. “We’ve been through so much.” She reached forward and put a delicate hand on Scully’s cheek. “You tried to pass through this door when Mom and Dad died, and now it’s standing wide open. Are you able to walk through it now?”

Melissa looked steadily at both of them and then turned and walked into the back of the shop, leaving them standing awkwardly in the small lobby. Scully looked shaken, stiff, and Mulder wanted to reach out to touch her, but didn’t dare.

He was about to open his mouth to say something but Scully’s quiet voice came first.

“She’s right,” she said, finally looking up at him. “I did try to talk to them. Our parents. I wanted to know if they… I wanted to know what happened to them. I wanted justice.”

He nodded at her.

“All I got was silence.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the shop.

He gave her a moment and then followed. She had walked back out to the picnic table, and was sitting at it, looking small and dejected.

Mulder gingerly slid in next to her.

“That must have been hard,” he said. He could picture her in the little back room, desperate to reconnect just one more time. He was certainly familiar with the impulse. It was why he was here in the first place.

“It was,” she said. “But I know you’ve been through something similar.” She leaned her shoulder into his. “When you think about it,” she went on. “We both just want answers.”

Mulder nodded, sighed. “Yeah,” he said, the wheels in his head turning.

He turned to her after a moment.

“I don’t know what to make of all this,” he said. “And I don’t know what’s going to happen. But what if…”

When he trailed off, she looked up. Her eyes were watery, but wide and bright. It took him a moment to remember what he was going to say.

“I’ve been assigned to work in VICAP,” he said. “When I graduate in a couple of weeks. That’s the violent crimes unit at the Bureau. And I was thinking… Maybe we could get answers for each other.”

“How?” She wanted to know.

A frog in the knot of trees across the street began to make its nighttime noises. He took in her profile; her delicate chin, her Roman nose, and inhaled deeply, the smell of hot tar and cumin thick in the air.

“If you’re willing to help me talk to my sister…” She gave him a dubious look, but didn’t stop him. “I’m willing to bet I can get my hands on the casefile from your parents' deaths. Maybe there’s something in there the police missed.”

Her eyebrows rose slowly.

“So you want to make a deal, is that it?”

For a brief moment he was thinking yes, if that means I can see you again. But instead, he said:

“A mutually beneficial arrangement.” He smiled at her. “I have the resources and expertise to help you, and… Well, you have the same for me.”

“So it’s a business arrangement?” she asked. Did he detect a hint of disappointment in her voice?

“If you like,” he said.

She thought about it for a moment, licked her lips, then stuck out her hand for a handshake.

“Okay,” she said. Her grip was strong, firm, the opposite of her sister’s. “You have a deal, Mulder.”

[one-annon]

STITCHES - MORGUESHIPPING

yippee!! rarepair!! i love these two goobers so much and i had the urge to write them post rbt...maybe a little ooc but its okay theyre homosexual guys raising a daughter together

mark hoffman was the last person logan expected to see tonight. especially in the condition he was in.

really, logan wasnt expecting anyone tonight. melissa was off having a sleepover with diana, who had quickly become her best friend, and logan had the night off from work. he was hoping to relax and just hang around tonight. guess thats hard when you have other, more violent work to handle, isnt it? after john had passed, along with amanda and the denlons, logan had taken the week off. he needed some time. 

mark had been there for him though. it felt like losing his wife all over again as he tried to explain to melissa what had happened with the man she considered to be her grandfather, only this time, he had a shoulder to cry on. he remembers mark holding him tight, explaining how the rest of the night was going to go. he instructed for logan to go home, to take melissa with him and go out the back. the police were probably outside by this point and he had to handle the agent still in the room with the corpses. 

logan had complied. he took melissa out to their favorite taco place, took her to mcdonalds for ice cream, and then headed home. he held his girl close that night. he didnt make her go to school the next morning. they spent the day together, and he remembers melissa asking where mark was on multiple occasions. all he said was "mark has work, honey." she knows about the traps. she knows what they do. this isnt the environment he wanted to raise his child in, but he couldnt bear to leave her alone at home. occasionally, lawrence would graciously take her in while logan helped with the traps.

it wasnt like melissa hated it in the workshop. in fact, she loved it there. sometimes she would take scraps of metal and beg logan or mark to help her build something for show and tell. when john was still alive, he would treat her like a princess. even when he was bedridden he would have her sit up on the bed with him and he would tell her stories. she loved his stories. amanda, too, cared for melissa. they were always pulling pranks on logan, and amanda would even paint her nails.

logan was always grateful for the extra help. melissa had taken a great liking to mark, though. they had a little arrangement. logan was a first time father. he didnt really have any clue what he was doing. mark may not have had a child, but he took care of a little girl. that itch to care for something never really went away, even after his sister was killed. mark would help logan raise melissa, do her hair and teach her about all the things logan could only explain in medical terms, he would treat her like his own daughter. logan thought it was sweet. melissa never failed to make the bigger man smile, logan would occasionally get the man to smile too.

not tonight. when logan heard those heavy knocks and opened the door, he locked eyes with mark hoffman. well, the shell of mark hoffman. he wasnt even sure the man in front of him was capable of smiling with that giant gash in the side of his face. his eyes looked dull, vengeful. logan had no clue what happened but he knew by the blood spilling from the towel over the wound, and marks wrapped up hand, he had finally been put in his fucking trap. technically, they didnt have a trap for mark. john and only stated that his test would "come with time". seems the time is now. 

the blonde rushed mark inside, leading him through the house layout the man knew all too well already. he took him to the bathroom, had him sit on the side of the tub. they didnt speak. logan was too focused on bringing his med kit from behind the mirror cabinet and fetching his stitching shit. he washed his hands thoroughly like he was about to scrub in to help with some surgery with lawrence, maybe shoving a key into someones side or something. 

the bloody towel was carefully removed from marks grip. that beautiful face logan had come to love was ruined. he couldnt help the bit of rage that rose in him at the thought of someone hurting mark like this. he couldnt help but be as protective over the detective as he is his little girl mark helped him raise. logan and his daughter had lost too many people they were close with. he wasnt about to lose the man that had come to become his baby's second father.

logan was careful as he washed the wound. it was routine work for the doctor. nothing he hasnt done before. he felt like he was back in the military with how quickly he worked. fortunately, he had pain medication mark could take afterward. he didnt want to damage the skin anymore with the risk of taking it right before. "stay still." he whispered, taking a rag with water and just a little bit of soap and wiping the blood around the wound. "got you good didnt they?" he kept his voice soft, calm.

hoffman didnt respond. he kept that same glare. his gaze was locked on the door and he seemed lost in thought. only when he felt the pain of his wound being messed with did he flinch and look up. logan knew mark wasnt immune to pain. he had a high tolerance for it, sure, but he wasnt immune. he watched with wide, daring eyes as logan cleaned his needle and threaded it. "this is only temporary. i can..somewhat fix it. its gonna hurt like a bitch though, sorry."

again, hoffman didnt respond. logan reached down, taking the hand that wasnt wrapped and placing it on his belt. he thanked his morning self for deciding to wear a belt today. well, he had to. horses wouldve pulled his damn pants down if he didnt. "tug if you need a minute. grab as hard as you need." he whispered, inhaling slowly before tugging the skin up to its rightful place. he counted down, just to give hoffman a warning, which he doubted hoffman cared about.

he sunk the needle in, starting the painful stitching process. like he did for mark in the past, he explained the process of what he was doing. he could tell mark was only half listening. thats fine. he didnt need him to listen, he just needed him to respond. and mark did. he tried to, anyway. little hums accompanied his voice, occasionally logan would get a whimper or a gasp or an inhale. he didnt judge mark, never had. mark didnt judge him when he was vulnerable and so he wont either.

by the time he had finished the stitching, mark had seemed a little more alert. he was a little more there. his hand had a tight grip on logans belt, refusing to let him go. logan retook the towel, dipping it in his homemade solution and cleaning the rest of the blood off before wiping the dry side over the wound. it looked gnarly. and not in the good way. it looked...botched. it wasnt his cleanest job but he wasnt exactly expecting to work on someone tonight, let alone mark hoffman.

logan sat next to him on the tub. "let me see your hand." mark obeyed without any hesitation, letting his wrapped hand rest on logans. he very carefully unwrapped the bandages, rubbing his thumb over the other's wrist in hopes of comforting him even just a little bit. it was kind of pathetic how they acted with each other. they were both so gentle. maybe it was the shared experience of being with melissa. that was the one person logan knew mark cared about so deeply. from the stories mark had told him about angelina, mel was just like her.

hoffmans hand was fucked, to say the least. it was almost as bad as his face. broken, no doubt. there was bone jabbing out of the skin. it made logan a little sick seeing him like this. it also made his curiosity grow. who the hell had done this? why? how? it wasnt easy taking down the beast of a man. he should know, the two of them have fought before, just for fun. even for the military man, it was hard. mark was big. he was strong too. logan had thought about how good of a soldier he would be a few times in the past.

the towel dabbing against hoffmans hand made him wince. it was painful, no doubt. logan tried his best to be quick. there was no fixing his hand. not here, at least. logan sighed, setting a piece of gauze over the wound and wrapping it with clean bandages. thats that done. perfect. mark was fixed up. he gathered the medical equipment, setting everything back in its place. two painkiller pills were placed into marks hand, along with a bottle of water logan had grabbed when he snatched the medkit. he watched as mark tossed his head back with the pills and water, watched as his throat bobbed when he swallowed.

he sat on the floor in front of mark, much to his knees despair. "what happened, mark?" he asked, concern filling his voice. 

"im gonna kill that bitch." 

that voice didnt sound like mark. not the one he knew. he's listened to that voice since he was recruited. he was just in the next room when john was "sorting him out". that calm, well mannered, sassy voice was full of hatred. revenge. anger. he didnt know who it was aimed toward, but he did know that mark was out for blood. the bad thing about it, was that it wasnt like the first time he felt this way.

logan and john had agreed mark was pathetic when he killed seth baxter. killing the bastard who took angelina from him was the only thing on his mind, but he was scared. he was scared when he was kidnapped, when he was in the chair, when he was helping john take down paul. mark was always scared since seth. but he learned. he learned well. he was taught to disconnect his emotions from the traps, from who was in the traps. logan assumed he was disconnected when that strahm guy was killed too. he didnt know much about marks relationship with strahm or how he came around to deciding that the guy needed to be reborn, but he helped with the trap. he knew how disconnected the detective was when he came out of that room. 

now though, he was disconnected not from his feelings, but from reality. mark hoffman was no longer with logan in that bathroom, but his body was. his body was here and his body was being controlled by anger. mark hoffman was no reasonable man. it was hard to negotiate with him. the man had nothing left in his life. logan knew that. all of his enemies were dead, his only family was dead, john and amanda were dead. from what hoffman knew, he and logan were the only remaining apprentices. logan knew mark had no clue about lawrence. no one had told him, john had told logan not to. from what mark knew, logan was the one who did all the surgeries. 

the blonde's hands moved to rest under mark's, holding them as gently as he could. "youve killed everyone, mark. you have no one left to handle. we dont have any other victims." he frowned. he felt like a parent explaining to their child that what they were doing was naughty. well, what mark was doing was bad. logan wasnt an idiot. he knew the man's love for violence.

"not all of them." the man said it like that was final. it was a fact. 

logan wasnt sure. john had given them instructions for the remaining games if he were to die in jeffs trial. they had a few more, and mark had handled bobby degans. that was it, that shouldve been all of them. he scraped his memory for anything that john had said. maybe his mind was failing him. had he forgotten a poor soul that needed to be rehabilitated? was someone wandering around that shouldnt be?

"who?" he asked, watching as mark stood. he lifted himself from the crouched position, trying to keep mark from escaping the room until he was able to figure out his plan.

even if he shouldve kept mark home with him, he didnt stop him as he shoved logan aside. "jill fucking tuck."

thats when logan started to panic. now, he was aware of lawrence's role. he knew the man was supposed to protect jill. that was supposed to be logan's job, until lawrence had gotten his divorce. logan was thankful. he had too much shit going on between his daughter's games, keeping eleanor off their trail, and his job - both for jigsaw and the police. lawrence had more time than he did, he was better at keeping an eye on the woman. 

he'd be damned if he let the oncologist hurt mark. 

"mark. you need to lay low. they'll fuckin' find you out if you kill her!" he tried to argue, tried to reason. but he knew it was no use. mark hoffman was a man who didnt take no for an answer. he followed mark out the bathroom, across the kitchen. he knew mark didnt care. he knew even if he dropped to his knees and begged for mark to stop, he wouldnt.

logan could do nothing but watch as mark opened the front door. he could do nothing but watch as he stepped into his car, could do nothing but watch as he drove away. 

that was the last time he saw mark hoffman before lawrence gave him the news that he was gone. he wouldnt admit to the amount of tears he shed over that awful, murderous, and oh, so beautiful man.

[marcholasmoth]

OSRR: 3779

proctoring went well today, too. i had to do a legitimate unscheduled break for the first time. it was uneventful.

i once again ended up with more painkillers than food in my body until the evening.

but i got to hang out with kendall and melissa this evening! the three of us and kendall's boyfriend went to dinner at pressed and got some drinks that didn't taste like alcohol (they were delicious) (they were actually smoothies and i had two, one of which had double the shots in it) and it was great. i got quesadilla tacos and bbq chicken sliders that were really good and i was very pleased with my lot in life.

the six shots or whatever that i had let me chill out a bit. before leaving i sat around for an hour and drank some water to sober up. i sat in my car for a while and only drove when my head was completely clear. i usually don't drive after having any drinks unless its been at least a few hours. however i had to get back, and drinking the rest of the water at the table and eating a lot of food worked really well.

i came back and came directly to bed, after washing a spot on my sweatshirt where i had gotten blood on it - while sitting in my car scrolling through social media, i got a nose bleed randomly and it dripped on my jacket a little. so i cleaned that up and hung it up to dry and came to bed. my tummy is angry because of the cheese and dairy i had. unsurprised.

regardless.

i got to tell my friends about my adventures with leo and i got to share my cute outfits with them and i was correct because i have great taste, and wearing shit that makes me feel hot is a nice change. i'm so glad leo thinks i'm hot so i have an excuse to dress how i want to.

plus i've lost a little over 20 pounds, and apparently you can tell? i wouldn't have been able to sit in the booth at pressed comfortably if i didn't. plus i can feel cute in things that look cute and be happy with my size. hype to wear my corsets just for the hell of it.

anyway.

joel is watching videos next to me. i'm a happy clam.

but my head hurts.

[candiecoatedsims]

Whitley noticed some new neighbors had moved in recently and wanted to welcome to the neighborhood. So she decided to make them a Taco Casserole and take it over to them.

Everett: Thank you Whitley. This is so kind of you. We moved here recently from Strangerville. Something really odd is going on there. It's just the four of us. My son Trevor, his wife Melissa and my grandson Isaac. Whitley: Nice to meet all of you.

[sterekchub]

Stiles just getting cursed or drinking a potion that causes him to grow fatter. Even as he passed 300 pounds he’s still healthy, though his sweating form and gas is a bit of an issue when his belches rattle windows. Derek coming to find a near ton of mobile blubber that is Stiles, looking up the heavy sandbag moobs and mattress sized belly to stiles fat face, the huge hog of a man casually eating a rolled up large pizza like it’s a sandwich rolls. A booming fart rumbling out of a truck sized ass that Derek imagined beings smothered under.

<3 the IDEAL size for Stiles ;) The pack (at first) feels bad for Stiles. It takes a few weeks for them to notice what curse was cast- but pretty soon they realize Stiles' never had a belly sticking that far out of his hoodie before. Stiles is shockingly unbothered. Does some research, which ends up being mostly porn, and finds himself in front of the mirror poking and grabbing at his sides and midsection, imagining himself getting bigger. If the way his dick is pressing into his underbelly is any indication- he's far from upset about it. And it doesn't hurt that Derek keeps staring at him in interest...mostly dealing with his feelings by hiding away from Stiles and hoping the pack finds a way to reverse the curse. He doesn't come back until the pack ask him to babysit. "Why me? "Because you get that dopey look that says 'in love but won't admit' it around him so tag, Derek, we're going to hunt down the witch, you keep Stiles out of trouble!" "He's *your* friend, Scott. Shouldn't you have a little more sympathy?" He's met with a long, deep sigh. Because sure- the weight? Not Stiles fault. But Scott, Parrish, even Jackson offered that maybe they can slow the curse if Stiles went running with them or mostly daily gym trips. Stiles waved them all off, with an excuse of "it could make the curse worse, for all you know!" And instead- he seemed intent on making helping the curse. His appetite kept expanding with him- Stiles reaches 400 pounds with the appetite of a man of his size. Melissa, Lydia, the Sheriff...alll offered to help him with some high-quantity, low calorie meals. And instead Stiles had shrugged them off and gotten into the routine of ordering himself enough Lo Mein and Egg Rolls that even he couldn't finish everything. And the curse didn't protect him against the way his belly started to grumble and after the constant take out and junk food diet took hold, the deep, wet belches or rumbling farts becoming almost a regular occurrence after his massive meals started to digest.

"...and I'm sure he is more hungry than before but he could TRY not eating garbage junk food that always makes him gassy!"

"Maybe it's - " "It's not the curse!" Isaac tells him with desperation. "He won't listen. He LIKES it." "He jerks off into his fat pad like he thinks we don't notice him....wobbling while he's humping his own fat." Jackson added in disgust. "Like- multiple times a day. I don't want to see that!" "I'm pretty sure the phone I lost is stuck in his fat roll." "He started Taco Tuesdays and we had to leave every window open in the house to fumigate it...."

"Even the neighbors heard the noise!" Derek puts a hand up to stop them all from shouting out their frustrations - which are basically his wet dream - and agrees to babysit Stiles while they're away.

He shows up to Stiles' house with the Camaro's so packed full of fast food bags- he couldn't see out the windows.

[rainmustfallts4]

Shoot for the Sky (short story)

Original note: I feel like this isn’t very good and it didn’t quite come out like I was hoping it would. That 1k limit truly is a challenge for me haha This took way longer than it should have for me to post because it took AGES to get to GeekCon lmao A huge thank you to these two amazing creators for their builds used in this story: – Newcrest Starter by SimsOnlineCom – Nacho, Bueno! by CallMeMotherlode

Theme: Take Flight

Challenge/Month: Monthly Simlit Short Story/April 2023

Genre: Friendship, adventure

Word Count: 1,000 words

Jaeden huffed as she approached Nacho, Beuno! to meet up with her best friend.

Upon entering, she fell onto the chair with a scowl on her face. Sitting across from her was her childhood friend, Drax, who sipped his fruity drink as he watched her. He knew better than anyone to be careful of his words when she was in a mood like she clearly was now. 

He also knew that he didn’t have to ask because she would definitely tell him on her own. So, he waited for her to speak, carefully sipping the cold drink to avoid a brain freeze. 

“Parents are so unfair,” she said finally, using her hands to express her frustration. “I’m clearly ready for my first flight, but dad keeps telling me I’m too young. I’m almost seventeen, for grim’s sake!”

“He said no, huh?” Drax guessed with a frown. “My mom said no, too. I really wanted to go to space camp this year…”

“Why don’t they understand? We’re not babies anymore and treating us like some isn’t going to make it true!” Jaeden groaned, throwing her head back against the plush booth. “Did you know Kalie goes on regular flight trips every weekend? Her whole family takes her!”

“Yeah, and Melissa has been to space camp every year since she was three. She always makes sure to rub it in my face when she gets back. Can’t our parents see that they go each year and come back without a scratch?” He shook his head with a frown.

While Drax was willing to just accept his fate, Jaeden was willing to fight for what she believed shedeserved. “We have to fight for what we want or we’ll never get it!”

“I don’t know…” Drax rubbed the side of his neck, shifting nervously in his seat. “They seem pretty serious about this. If we disobey them, we might not get to visit GeekCon this year.”

“GeekCon?” she repeated, eyes widening as a thought struck her. She stood up suddenly, slamming her hands on the table. “That’s it! GeekCon!”

The other patrons of Nacho, Bueno! looked over at her in confusion and surprise. Drax, ever the shy boy, felt his cheeks start to burn. Jaeden, on the other hand, didn’t even notice them.

“Please sit down,” he told her pleadingly, giving her a nervous smile.

One of the waitresses approached her, a customer service smile on her face. “Is everything okay, miss?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry,” Jaeden offered her an apologetic smile as she sat back down, waiting for the woman to walk away before addressing her friend once more. “We’re going to GeekCon and we’re going to both get what we want.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They build rocket ships each year. Forget space camp, you can go to actual space!”

“Are you crazy?” He sat up so suddenly that his chest bumped against the table. “I’ve never even been to camp, I can’t go to space!”

“Of course, you can. You just need someone with you that knows what they’re doing. And I just so happen to know a guy,” she grinned, folding her arms across her chest. “The same guy that just so happens to have a nice little broom for me.”

“Our parents will kill us!” he cried out softly before suppressing a shiver. “If we don’t die on our own first…”

Jaeden rolled her eyes. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, man. You can stay back if you want, but I’m not giving up this chance.” And with that, she stood up and left the taco joint, leaving her friend frowning at the table.

“Ta-dah!” Eric Westmiser pulled a black broom from behind his back, a grin on his lips. “As requested, one spellcaster’s broom!”

Jaeden’s eyes sparkled as she took the wooden handle in her hand. It felt right for her to hold it and it felt as if it belonged there. She had been waiting her whole life for this moment.

“Where’s your friend?” he wondered, glancing around. “The rocket’s fueled and ready to go.”

“Looks like you’re taking this trip alone,” she commented with a frown before shaking her head. It sucks that he chose not to join her, but what could she do? She couldn’t force him to reach for his dreams. All she could do was reach for her own and they were right in front of her now.

Eric shrugged, turning toward the rocket. “You take off first and I’ll follow after you.”

“Roger!” Jaeden gripped the broom firmly with her hands, preparing to mount it. Before she could, though, she heard her name being called.

“Jaeden!” Drax slowly approached them, taking a moment to catch his breath since he had ran the whole way to the festival. “W-Wait… for me!”

She grinned, nodding her head toward the rocket. “Let’s reach for the sky!”

Despite the anxiety in his heart, he grinned back. “Right!”

“All aboard!” Eric called dramatically from the doorway to the rocket. “We’re ready for takeoff!”

Taking a deep breath, Drax sent Jaeden a smile before turning to enter the rocket.

The door slid shut and the rocket started to vibrate as they started up the engine.

Excitement filled her as Jaeden finally kicked off the ground, her magic making her appear to glow a faint white. She slowly floated off the ground, hearing surprised whispers from the convention goers below.

It only spurred her on. She leaned forward and the broom shot upward toward the bright blue sky.

She could hear the rocket right on her tail and she slowed down until it was flying right beside her.

She could see Drax’s happy face through the tiny window and she couldn’t help but smile to herself.

The rocket surged upward, breaking through the planet’s atmosphere, getting smaller and smaller until she could no longer see it. Unfortunately, she couldn’t follow on her broom but she was still able to race across the sky, the wind whipping through her hair.

[pony-central]

New Character Profile

Name - Sick Boyfriend

Nicknames - Sick Boi, Tall Boi, Sick BF, Kevin, Master Sickest, Mr Sick Boyfriend, Babe (by PonyCentral), Buddy, Sweetie

Age - 19/20

Date of Birth - September 20th, 2003

Status - Alive and Married

Engaged on - September 28th, 2022

Married on - October 1st, 2022

Friends - the people he trusts

Enemies - Senpai and any of the other Sick Boyfriend's

Family - Unnamed dad, Melissa Sickest Jr (mum), Sick Kaity (sister), Pépé Bubbles (half-brother), Dave Sides (cousin)

Love Interest - DrugFriend, Boyfriend and PonyCentral (sometimes)

Likes - hanging out with friends, eating anything chicken related, fast food, ice cream, cake and sweet things

Dislikes - sour candies, Among Us, losing video games, and Senpai

Week - SickPants week (originally was Week 2, until the mod got updated)

Songs - Stomach Flu and Shark Hunt

Strengths - he is fast at dodging spatula attacks and can strike SpongeBob SickPants with his busted microphone

Noticeable features - his thicc butt, which DrugFriend and PonyCentral Simp over

Favourite food - Taco Bell and any chicken dishes

Least Favourite Food - Sour sweets

Other abilities - superspeed and power kicks

Fun Fact - Sick Boyfriend is prone to sleep farting, which keeps DrugFriend awake at night

[avatarskywalker78]

It's Six Sentence Sunday and I've been working on more than one wip, so this week you get three extracts! Firstly, part one of my Aquafam AU, which I'm hoping to get finished this week but I'm not promising.

“It’s important. At some point you’ll have to go up there, you know – wouldn’t you rather find out things in advance? You can’t ignore half the world just because you don’t like it, and the best way to combat prejudice is to do research.”

“I don’t plan on visiting anytime soon.” Orm said dryly. “I’d have to leave my cell first, and there’s still some months left before I can do so outside of my reparation duties.”

Arthur was working on that as well, but that was taking time and he didn’t want to get his brother’s hopes up for an early release that might not happen.

“I’m sure you’ll like it.” Was what he said instead. “I’ve got so many things I wanna show you, little brother, and you’ll love the food – we’ve got steak and cheeseburgers and tacos and—”

“None of that means anything to me.”

“You’ll learn!” Arthur declared, feeling cheerful about the prospect and clapping Orm on the shoulder. “You’re gonna love it, I swear.”

“I shall take your word for it.”

(Orm does suspect Arthur is up to something, by the way - he's not very subtle)

Next, the 'Tory is a Barnes' AU and I've written the whole fight scene, so here's a snippet (in other news, I hate writing fight scenes, why do I do this to myself?!)

“Tory, please, you don’t need to do this—”

“This has nothing to do with you!” Tory snarled, eyes alight with a wild fury. “I dunno who the hell you are, but you’d better get out of the way—”

“What, so you can continue with all this? With the brawl you started?” Elaine made sure she was standing between her cousin and Sam as she stepped back. “Look what you’ve done—”

“She had it coming! She deserves what she gets and no one’s gonna stop me!”

Then Tory sprang forward, faster than she was expecting, and landed a sharp kick to Elaine’s chest that sent her crashing into the lockers and fucking hurt, and Elaine fought to get her breath back as Tory let out a yell before going after Sam again—

“No!” Elaine had to stop her, and as the girls crashed through the door she tackled Tory from behind, hauling her away from Sam and ignoring the shouts and hollers of the other kids.

Lastly it's the 'Lissa Blackwood' AU - which I've been rewriting and also debating on whether to have it as a longfic or as a series of fics (if it's the latter, this fic will be up this week)

He gave her a concerned look.

“Lady Blackwood, we…were asked to find you as well. By your family and…by the Kingslayer—”

“Jaime. His name is Jaime.” Ned valued honour above all - that was the Stark way, she knew, and of course he would also dislike Jaime on principle…

But she’d just seen one of her oldest friends die, and she wasn’t going to listen to her other friend be talked about like this, not after two months of it from the Kingsguard.

“Jaime.” Ned acquiesced – unhappily, but he acquiesced, and Melissa took a deep breath.

“I’ve been through much, Lord Stark,” she told him, “and today has been one of the worst days for all of us. I…do not feel ready to talk about my return.”

She's not stalling - this point she honestly hasn't decided what she's going to do (but it doesn't take her very long)

Tagging (let me know if you want to be added or removed): @shrinkthisviolet @dream-beyond-the-fantasy

[cartoonfanaticmonsterrobotalien]

My Bio

Age: In my early twenties

Name: Can’t tell you

Birth Date: December 14, 2002

Favorite Adult Animation Shows: Solar Opposites, Robotomy, Rick and Morty, Adventure Time, South Park, Regular Show, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Triptank, Lucy, Disenchantment, Futurama, The Simpsons, The Brak Show, Metalpacolypse, Soace Ghost Ciast to Coast, Central Park, Bob’s Burgers, American Dad, Clerks, Duncanville, Great North, Housebroken

Favorite Superhero Shows: Invincible, Villains of Valley View, Koala Man, Miraculous, Lab Rats, PPG ‘98, Hamster and Gretel, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Danny Phantom, Super Friends, Justice League ‘01, DC Super Girls ‘18, Static Shock, Horrorbots, Spider-Man ‘17, Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Star Vs. The Forces of Evil, Kim Possible

Favorite Cartoon Network Shows: Amazing World of Gumball, Camp Lazlo, Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Cow and Chicken, Johnny Bravo, Dexter’s Laboratory, Time Squad

Favorite Nickelodeon Shows: SpongeBob SquarePants, Santo Bugito, Invader Zim, My Life as a Teenage Robot, El Tigre, Wonder Park, Modern Life, ICarly, Victorious, Kenan and Kel, All That

Favorite Disney Shows: Amphibia, Owl House, Ghost and Molly McGee, Hailey’s On It, Kiff, Star Darlings, Phineas and Ferb, Milo Murphy’s Law, Hannah Montana, Good Luck Charlie, Kickin It, Lab Rats

Favorite Discovery Family Shows: MLP ‘10, Aquabats Super Show

Favorite Streaming Shows: Centuarworld, Glitter Force Doki Doki

Favorite Food: Steak, Fries, Burgers, Chicken fingers, doughnuts, pancakes, bacon, fruit pastries, French toasts, fried chicken, turkey, duck, baked potatoes, hash browns, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, pork chops, ribs, Korean BBQ, Japanese chicken, steak fillet, Doritos, Ruffles, Cheetos, CC’s Chips, banana bread, Cheez-It’s Snaps, Goldfish

Favorite Sweets: Ice Cream, Hershey’s Chocolate, Reese’s, KitKat, Toffee, Cake, Cupcakes, Ice Cream Cakes, Skittles, Starburst, Cookies, Crumble, Cookie sandwiches, ice cream sandwiches, ice cream pops, animation character ice cream pops, sundaes, Nestle’s chocolate, Oreos

Favorite Fruits and Veggies: Asparagus, Carrots, broccoli, potatoes, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, like, grapes, apples, lettuce, cherry, bananas, coconut

Favorite drinks: Mountain Dew, Water, milk, root beer, coca-cola, tab’s, Mr. Pibbs, Pepsi, Dole’s juice brand, Fanta, Crush, Dr. Pepper, soda floats, Nesquick, smoothies

Favorite Actors: Patton Oswalt, Dan Stevens, Thomas Middleditch, John Gemberling, Will Forte, Charlie Day, Mike Sinterniklaass, Roger Craig Smith, Dan Mintz, Josh Gad, Dee Bradley Baker, Rob Schrab, Nate Corddry, Rob Corddry, Chris Pratt, Jack Black, Brian O’Halloran, Justin Feilbinger, John DiMaggio, Billy West, Oded Fehr, Michael Cusack, Zach Hadel, Phil LaMarr, Robbie Daymond, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Matthew Lillard, Kevin Michael Richardson, John Mulaney, Antanio Banderas, Richard Steven Horvitz, Brandon Rogers, Sam Riegel, Jon Heder, Andy Daly, Zeno Robinson, James Marsden, Dana Snyder, Fred Tatasciore, Rob Paulsen

Favorite Actresses: Felicia Day, Mary Mack, Lacey Chabert, Brenda Song, Stephanie Sheh, Kate MiCucci, Riki Lindhome, Kari Wahlgren, Grey DeLisle, Jenny McCarthy, Melissa Fahn, Cristina Vee, Lana Condor, Sandra Oh, Odette Anaboe, Edie Mirman, Cathy Cavadini, Tara Strong, EG Daily, Olivia Olsen, Hynden Walch, Christina Hendricks, Libe Barer, Marieve Harrington, Sarah Nicole Robles, Kimberly Brooks, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Vannessa Hudgens, Tika Sumpter, Reba Buhr, Erica Lindbeck, Vivian Nixon

Favorite Music Genres: Rock, Classic, Pop, orchestra, country, funk, techno, dubstep, heavy metal, Christian

Favorite Band: Ice Nine Kills, Adelitas Way, Bowling For Soup, Hansen, Disturbed, Slipknot, System of a Down, Hollywood Undead, Kiss, Queen, A Day to Remember, Thousand Foot Krunch, Nightwish, Evanescence, Seether, Imagine Dragons, Skillet, Newsboys, Simple Plan, Play, Nickelback, BTS, Blackpink, aespa, Black Eyes Peas

Favorite Singer: Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, P!nk, Katy Perry, David Quetta, Jennifer Lopez, Sia, Halsey, Kelsey Belleriny, AJ Michalka, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, China Ann McClain, Ashley Tisdale, Avicci, Kelly Prickler, Aloe Blaccc, Lil Naxx, Post Malone, Eminem, Kelli Monologue, Paul Simon

Favorite Tv Genres: Animation Drama, dramedy, slapstick, comedy, animation, sci-if, romance, buddy, superhero animation, manga, anime

Favorite Movies: Hulk ‘03, Sky High, Kim Possible: So The Drama, Clerks, Incredibles, Ruby Gillman, Boy Who Cried Werewolf, Ratatouille, Alvin and the Chipmunk ‘07, Muppets in Space, Kickass, Belle, Elemental, Madagascar, Rugrats Go Wild, Wild Thorn Berrys Movie, Peanuts Franchise, Turning Red, Encanto, Emoji Movie, Ice Age Franchise (but not the Buck Wild one), G-Force, PPG Movie, Ben 10 2008 movie live action, South Park The Movie, PeeWee’s Big Adventure, Captain Underpants, Napoleon Dynamite, Jay and Silent Bob, Mallrats, Finding Nemo, Frozen, Super Mario Bros. Movie, Mitchells vs. Machines, Veggietales, Cars, 102 Dalmations, Romeo + Juliet, Small Soldiers, Godzilla vs King Kong, Godzilla: World of Monsters, Van Helsing, Hotel Transylvania, Secret Life of Pets, Sing 2

Favorite Wen Series: Annoying Orange, SMG4, Sunset Paradise, Helluva Boss, Hazbin Hotel, Meta Runner, Amazing Digital Circus, Eddsworld, Murder Drones, Most Popular Girls in School, Summer Camp, Summer Camp Island, Villanos

My Skills: Typing

My Weakness: I can’t draw

Favorite Monsters: Aliens, Kaijus, wereanimals, Kaijus weremonsters, robots, werewolves, vampires, mutants, giant beasts